#516: Why Paying $192 For A 5-Mile Car Ride May Be Rational

Here's the scenario: A man and his wife are desperate to get to the hospital because she is about to deliver a baby. It's a hot summer day. It's rush hour. They flag down a private car and ask, "How much?" To their surprise the driver wants to charge them four times the normal price of a cab.So, is this a story about a cabbie taking advantage of a vulnerable couple or is it simply good economics?Today, we are talking about a company that charges people in desperate situations more for a ride, and we'll consider the argument that it might actually be better for everyone.